The ground split apart like a spiderweb in an instant, the cracks spreading outward.
Watching the bear-claw imprint rush toward him, Li Jiutian said disdainfully, "Zhao Wuji, this should be your last attack!"
"Then let's settle this with one strike!"
"Xiao Xuan, boost my strength!"
"Fourth Soul Skill, Divine Power!"
The black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on Luo Zixuan's body shimmered. A beam of pure white holy light descended from the sky and enveloped Li Jiutian.
"Left Arm Soul Bone Skill, Holy Light Burst God Fist!"
Li Jiutian's aura surged, reaching a level comparable to a Soul Douluo. Golden light wrapped around his left fist, and he swung it fiercely at the bear-claw imprint!
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out. His fist pierced through the bear-claw imprint and struck the Vajra Bear squarely in the belly!
With a howl of pain, the Vajra Bear was blasted five kilometers away!
Zhao Wuji dispelled his Martial Soul and collapsed facedown on the ground, badly wounded, clutching his still-bleeding abdomen.
"Giving up already?"
Li Jiutian turned into a streak of golden light and swept to Zhao Wuji's side in less than three seconds.
"As long as you... spare my life, I'll do anything!"
Zhao Wuji begged.
"You have no value to me."
"Go meet the King of Hell!"
Li Jiutian said coldly, then raised his greatsword and slashed at Zhao Wuji's neck!
At that moment, Zhao Wuji suddenly sprang up and dodged backward, then slammed a fist into the ground!
Bang!
The ground within a five-hundred-meter radius shattered, sending up a cloud of dust.
When the dust cleared, Zhao Wuji had vanished without a trace!
"Brother, don't tell me that big dumb bear actually got away!"
Luo Zixuan said with a sigh.
"Your brother has always been decisive and merciless. How could I let him escape?"
Golden light flickered in Li Jiutian's eyes. He spotted Zhao Wuji beside his students.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Blazing Sun Dragon-Locking Array!"
As his Soul Power Level increased, the range of the walls of flame expanded to a ten-kilometer radius.
"I, Zhao Wuji, have lived a brilliant life. I can't believe I'm going to die in a place like this!"
Looking at the walls of flame around him, which looked like something straight out of Hell, Zhao Wuji knew there was no escaping.
A Golden Flame Giant Dragon appeared beside Li Jiutian and charged fiercely at Zhao Wuji!
Boom!
The instant the Golden Flame Giant Dragon struck Zhao Wuji, he was reduced to a charred husk!
The student beside him was so terrified that he wet himself, a large patch darkening his trousers.
"Brother, your fourth Soul Skill is way too ridiculous! It's practically on par with a Titled Douluo's eighth Soul Skill!"
Luo Zixuan said admiringly.
Li Jiutian gave a slight smile, walked up to the student, and said coldly, "Get lost."
"You... you're not going to kill me?"
The student stared at Li Jiutian in horror and stammered.
"I have no interest in killing trash. Go back and deliver a message: within five years, Shrek Academy will cease to exist on this continent."
After speaking, Li Jiutian took Luo Zixuan by the hand and headed toward Spirit City.
As the pair gradually disappeared into the distance, the student glanced at Zhao Wuji's charred remains. His expression suddenly turned resolute.
"Thank goodness I played dumb and escaped with my life. Teacher, Zhao Meng will avenge you one day!"
Zhao Meng took off his coat and carefully wrapped Zhao Wuji's charred remains in it, then headed toward Heaven Dou City.
Li Jiutian had no idea that the "trash" in his eyes would become his greatest enemy years later!
Chapter 26: The Tournament Opens!
Heaven Dou City.
Inside Shrek Academy.
"Ah, that masked man also said that within five years, he'd make sure Shrek Academy ceased to exist on the continent."
After returning to the academy, Zhao Meng told Grandmaster and the others everything that had happened in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"What... you're saying that charred corpse is Teacher Zhao Wuji?!"
Looking at the human-shaped husk on the ground, Xiao Wu sobbed uncontrollably.
"I'll find that man right now and tear him limb from limb!"
After saying that, Liu Erlong stormed toward the academy gates, but Grandmaster stopped her with one hand.
"Erlong, don't be rash. Anyone who could kill Zhao Wuji with such ease is no ordinary person!"
Grandmaster's heart was aching too, but he forced himself to remain calm.
"Tell us what you think. How old was the person who killed Teacher Zhao Wuji, and what was his Martial Soul?"
Tang San spoke up, asking in confusion.
"He looked to be between twelve and eighteen. His Martial Soul was enormous—a golden angel with eight pairs of wings!"
Zhao Meng replied.
"Twelve to eighteen, with an Eight-Winged Angel Martial Soul... I know who it was!"
"But... how is that possible? Teacher Zhao was a level-76 Soul Saint!"
Tang San furrowed his brows and shook his head helplessly.
"I've only ever heard of a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. This Eight-Winged Angel is a first for me."
"Xiao San, do you know who the killer is?"
Grandmaster asked, puzzled.
"Teacher, do you remember the boy who kidnapped Xiao Wu and me six years ago?"
"There's no doubt he was the one who killed Teacher Zhao Wuji. His Martial Soul was an angel Martial Soul—you could tell from the Angel Wings on his back."
Tang San explained.
"Although I don't know what grudge he has against our Shrek Academy, this is a blood feud. Given the chance, we'll make him pay with his life!"
Flender said furiously, then headed out of the room ahead of the others.
Grandmaster thought to himself, Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, I'm not done with you!
Two years later.
Spirit City had been especially lively lately, because the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, held once every five years, had finally begun!
The Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was jointly organized by the royal families of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires.
Co-hosted by Spirit Hall, it was the grandest Martial Soul tournament in the Soul Master World, with competitors whose strength was surpassed only by those in Spirit Hall's elite selection tournament.
Plenty of passersby were discussing it:
"Who do you think will win this year?"
"Obviously, Spirit Hall Academy!"
"I don't know about that. Shrek Academy is pretty formidable too. They've pulled off one surprise victory after another and made it all the way to the semifinals."
Hearing the discussion, Li Jiutian shook his head helplessly and thought, In the end, victory belongs to Spirit Hall!
"Brother, this tournament looks like a lot of fun. Let's go watch!"
Seeing the crowds heading toward Spirit Hall, Luo Zixuan said excitedly.
"Since you want to compete, I'll speak to His Holiness the Pope. I'll go onstage with you for the final!"
Li Jiutian patted her head affectionately.
"Hehe, let's go. We can watch today's semifinal. It's bound to be exciting!"
After saying that, Luo Zixuan dragged Li Jiutian toward the Spirit Hall tournament arena!
After two years of hard training, Luo Zixuan's Soul Power had reached level 49, just one step away from breaking through to Soul King.
Li Jiutian's Soul Power had reached level 61, but he still hadn't obtained a Soul Ring.
Spirit Hall.
Great Soul Arena.
Inside the arena, Kamikaze Academy and Blazing Fire Academy had joined forces to form the New Blazing Academy Team, which was locked in a fierce battle against the Shrek Academy Team.
To Li Jiutian's surprise, even without the opportunity to obtain Immortal Herbs, Tang San and the others had all broken through to Soul Ancestor. Their Soul Power Levels were even higher than they would have been after taking the Immortal Herbs. Could their hatred be driving them to train even harder?
The students from the Five Elemental Academies stood among the spectators, watching the match with excitement.
The winner would earn the right to compete against the Spirit Hall Academy Team for the championship!
On the elevated platform, Bibi Dong watched the match, her expression as calm as still water. When she saw Li Jiutian and Luo Zixuan take their seats in the stands, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
Beside her stood Chrysanthemum Douluo and Gui, along with Platinum Bishop Salas, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Douluo.
"Everyone, who do you think will win this match?"
Bibi Dong asked calmly.
"Wind fuels the flames, and the flames harness the wind. Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu work together seamlessly. All their teammates have poured their Soul Power into those two, giving them strength that nearly reaches Soul Saint level."
"Look at Shrek Academy's main fighter, Tang San. He's being beaten so badly he can't fight back!"
"I believe Blazing Academy will win this match."
Chrysanthemum Douluo analyzed.
Bibi Dong smiled faintly, then glanced to her right. "Sect Master Ning, what do you think?"
"Shrek Academy has pulled off one unexpected victory after another. Although Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu have them on the back foot right now, it remains to be seen whether things might turn around."
Ning Fengzhi lowered his head slightly and answered respectfully.
Bibi Dong knew how clever and capable Yu Xiaogang was. She looked toward Li Jiutian in the stands and thought, This match will decide who gets the three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. We absolutely cannot lose!
If Shrek Academy really does win, then to make certain of victory, I'll have to send Xiao Tian, the monster among monsters, into the fray.
"Bing'er, look at that handsome man in the black brocade robe! I wonder which academy he's from. I've never seen him before."
Shui Yue'er stared at Li Jiutian, completely entranced.
"You're swooning over someone again!"
Shui Bing'er tapped her on the head, glanced at Li Jiutian, then turned her attention back to the arena.
"Brothers, change formation!"
Tang San shouted. Dai Mubai and the others immediately took their places behind him.